World's First Airbus Aircraft To Use RNP In Revenue Service

Aero-News has learned Air China recently received approval to conduct Required Navigation Performance (RNP) operations with their Airbus A319 fleet.

Representatives with Naverus, manufacturers of the system, tell ANN an RNP-equipped Air China A319 departed Lhasa, China on August 23 -- making it the world's first Airbus plane to use RNP in revenue service. Naverus, Airbus, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Air China all contributed to the achievement of this milestone.

Required Navigation Performance utilizes GPS and sophisticated avionics to ensure that aircraft stay on precise, pre-programmed paths. Air China A319s will use this capability to guide its planes through Himalayan mountain valleys when arriving and departing the airport at Lhasa.

In addition to providing navigation solutions for terrain challenged airports, RNP can also be used to increase safety and operational efficiency while minimizing aircraft emissions and noise at any airport.

Naverus' RNP customers include Airbus, Air China, Air New Zealand, Boeing, jetBlue, Jetstar, Qantas, Southwest Airlines, Virgin Blue and WestJet. The Seattle company, which is privately-held, was founded in 2003.

FMI: www.naverus.com, http://us.fly-airchina.com/US/index.html